How to Pick the Perfect Song for Your First Dance

Picking your first dance can be tricky… you want a song that is personal to both of you, but feels just right for the big moment! On a practical level, your first dance can also be a great way to encourage people on to the dance floor, hopefully leaving it packed for the rest of the night. Fortunately, we at Last Minute Musicians are on hand to offer some insight into picking the perfect first dance!

See more after the cut!

Picking your song…

Do you want the original recording or to have it performed by the band?

One of the first things you should think about is whether you would like your band (or act) to perform your first dance. Many wedding bands will happily learn something at your request, but you should always check this when you first get in touch to make an enquiry or as soon as you’ve started to consider it.

If you would prefer to have the original song played over the band’s PA system, this can usually be accommodated, but do be sure to send them a specific link to or MP3 version of the song you would like.

Think of some important moments you’ve had as a couple

Perhaps there was someone playing music at the restaurant where you had your first date? Maybe you both went to a concert early on in the relationship? A song you heard on holiday? Cast your mind back over some of the best moments you’ve had together – you’ll probably find that music played a part of them in some way, big or small!

Consider the style of the band

If you have already booked your band before deciding your first dance, then consider the style of music they play when selecting it… you might have met your beloved when your eyes locked across the dance floor at an AC/DC concert, but if you have decided on a folk band for your festival-style “wedfest” (currently a very popular choice, by the way!) then they probably won’t be able to pull off a note-for-note stylistically perfect version of “You Shook Me All Night Long”!

Some bands will happily take requests and perform a song in their own style, but you have to be prepared for it not to sound exactly like the recording. Acoustic bands, for instance, will usually perform requests in more of a “Live Lounge” type style.

Top tip: Some bands may offer the option of recording a version of them playing the first dance for you in advance, to help you make up your mind, but be prepared for them to charge a modest additional cost for the extra time involved.

Ask the band’s advice

Your band will almost certainly have a repertoire list (this can definitely be found on their Last Minute Musicians profile, for instance), and this can be a great place to start if you’re stuck with song choices! Plus, if you’ve already booked your band, then there is nothing wrong with asking their advice… they might have had some really cool requests in the past!

Popular suggestions

If none of the above is working for you, here are some popular suggestions for your first dance, across a couple of different styles!

Once you’ve decided…

Let the band know in adequate time

If you do want your band to perform your first dance, make sure you let them know as far in advance as you can – they will need time to learn and rehearse the song!

Consider Inviting people on to the dance floor

If you want a packed dance floor for the night, a great way to start is by inviting your guests to join you halfway through your first dance. You don’t have to do this yourself – ask your band or DJ, they’ll be more than happy to accommodate this. Letting them know on the day should be fine.

Think about when you’d like your dance to take place

It may sound odd, but your first dance doesn’t necessarily need to be the first thing to happen. Most of your guests will understand If you’d like some time to acclimatize, so you can always ask the band or DJ to play a couple of tunes first, to warm everyone into the evening.

Finally, huge congratulations from everyone at Last Minute Musicians on your engagement, and all the best for the big day!

More about Last Minute Musicians…

Looking to book entertainment for your wedding? Lastminutemusicians.com has over 2900 diverse and creative acts waiting for you on the online entertainment directory…

Visitors can see pictures, read bios, watch video and listen to audio in order to ensure the act they select is perfect for their special day. Couple this with our independent reviews system, and you can be sure that the entertainment you book will turn your wedding day into an evening everyone will be talking about for years to come! Just browse through the listings (searching by price, area, and genre) and negotiate directly with the band you’d like to book.

The key to finding affordable but bespoke musicians when you have around two days’ notice is a website like LastMinuteMusicians.com – you choose the musical genre you fancy, find a band photo that looks good, listen to a few audio examples of your shortlistees, click “book” and they will appear at the right moment, in the right outfit, playing the right music. As if supplied by god.”

– Emma Freud, The Guardian

Two professional musicians founded Last Minute Musicians over a decade ago. It has since grown into a team of over 10 people, dealing with 50,000 enquiries and dealing with over 70,000 customers… in the last 12 months alone. Lastminutemusicians.com is revolutionizing the way people find their perfect wedding entertainment.

WeddingLovely and Last Minute Musicians teamed up to share with planning couples this partnered list of ways to ensure you pick the perfect song for your special day!